Cigarette making machine



Oct. 24, 1967 J. R. PINKHAM CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 4, 1965 INVENTOR JESSE R- PINKHA 1967 J. R. PINKHAM 3,348,551

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE Filed May 4, 1965 Y 5 she ts-sheet z INVENTORJESSE R- PINKHAN ATTORNEY Oct- 24, 1967 1 J. R. PINKHAM 3,348,551

CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE INVENTOR JESSE a man" an ATTORNEY United StatesPatent O Filed May 4, 1965, Ser. No. 453,025 Claims. (Cl. 131-84) Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 124,954,filed July 18, 1961, now abandoned, and claim is made to all of theequitable and legal benefits derivable therefrom. I

This invention relates to improvements in the production of cigaretteswhereby the individual cigarettes are caused to approximate more nearlythan heretofore a desired normal or standard tobacco content, and thetobacco in each cigarette is caused to be distributed more evenly.

It has been usual in the past to feed loose tobacco through a feedthroat of predetermined width, the throat being provided between acarded feed drum and a carded refuser drum. The two drums are driven inthe same direction of rotation, and therefore have their confrontingparts traveling in opposite directions, the arrangement being such thatthe feed drum carries the tobacco stream through the throat, while therefuser drum limits the depth of the tobacco stream which can be passedby the throat.

With the feed drum traveling at uniform speed and the tobacco streamlimited to a definite depth in the feed throat, factors which mightproduce significant deviations from a normal or standard rate of feedare (1) the tendency of the refuser drum to do its work unevenly by attimes picking tufts or burls out of the tobacco stream rather than theusual loose shreds of tobacco, and (2) the arrival of tobacco of varyingdensity at the feed throat. In an effort to avoid the second of thesedeficiencies, tampers have commonly been provided for packing thetobacco loosely into the carding of the feed drum.

These instrumentalities have resulted in the production of cigarettes ofsufficient uniformity to satisfy the demands of the smoking public. Itis known to cigarette manufacturers, however, that substantialvariations of tobacco density do occur, and that an improvement in theuniformity of tobacco feed would substantially improve the quality anduniformity of the resulting cigarettes.

In accordance with the present invention a tobacco stream is produced asoutlined above, or in some equivalent way, which varies somewhat incross-sectional bulk but which has at every point at least substantiallythe normal or standard amount of tobacco for the kind of cigarette beingmade. For improving the uniformity of tobacco distribution, supplementalmechanism is provided which includes means for crowding tobacco along aconfined path to a trimming station while compressing the confinedstream to a definite cross-section and to a substantially uniformdensity, in combination with a trimmer which acts continuously to trimoff the surplus tobacco and return it to the tobacco source.

In accordance with a further important feature of the invention, meansis provided for adjustively altering the cross-sectional area of theportion of the tobacco stream which is below the trim line at thetrimming station, the alteration being in adirection and to an extentcalculated to compensate for, and to correct observed long termdeviations from the normal.

To this end, measuring means is provided for determining the weight of adefinite number of cigarettes, together with automatic means responsiveto such measuring for effecting a compensatory adjustment of thecross-sectional area of the stream of retained tobacco at the trimmingstation.

'ice

In another aspect the invention has to do with a method of producing acigarette filler of improved uniformity, so that each cigarette will besubstantially uniform in tobacco density and content from end to end,and one cigarette will contain substantially the same amount of tobaccoas every other cigarette, according to which a tobacco filler stream isprovided which varies somewhat in cross-sectional bulk but whichincludes at all points a cross-sectional bulk of tobacco equal at leastto substantially the normal or average bulk required for the type ofcigarette being made, causing the filler stream to travel at uniformvelocity past a trimming station, partially confining the filler streamand progressively reducing the cross-sectional area of the stream as itapproaches the filler station to compress the stream to a predeterminedcross-sectional area and put it under substantially a predeterminedpressure, and at said station trimming off and removing the tobaccowhich stands above a predetermined trim line.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a portion of anillustrative cigarette making machine which embodies features of theinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the stream carrying belt, thesection being taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the stream carrying belt, thesection being taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but of a second illustrativeembodiment of the invention;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are, respectively, sectional views through the belt andcooperative stream guiding means, the sections being taken on the lines55 and 6-6 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

' FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of an automatic mechanism for raisingand lowering the trimmer and the cooperative ledger plate to adjust thetrim line;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view, similar to FIGURE 1 of a furthermodified form of mechanism embodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a divided, half-plan, half-sectional view taken on the line9-9 in FIG. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows, of the streamguiding and confining structure associated with the trimmer of FIGURE 8;and

FIGURES 10 and 11 are sectional views taken, respectively, on the lines10-10 and 11-11 of FIGURE 8.

In FIGURE 1 disclosure is made of a tobacco feed belt 10' which runs atconstant speed in the direction indicated by the arrow. The belt 10 runsover end and intermediate rollers such as roller 12 and is driven bysuitable drive rollers well known in the art.

' Belt 10 is spread out flat and has loose tobacco showered uponit at aportion beyond the right end thereof as seen in FIG. 1, at asubstantially constant rate from a picker wheel or other suitable source(not shown). The tobacco shower on the belt 10 forms a filler stream forsupplyingv a single continuous filler to cigarette makinginstrumentalities of. the continuous rod type. An endless band ofcigarette paper P is shown trained over a roller 14 in position toreceive the filler as it is delivered from the belt 10', and to carrythe filler forward for wrapping and then severance into individualcigarettes, all at the same rateoftravel at which it is received.

Belt 10 is caused to run through a trimming or metering unit 16 whichcomprises belt guiding and shaping instrumentalities 18 and a rotarytrimmer 20. The trimmer 20 is provided at a trimming station, beinglocated substantially midway of the length of the device 16.

The instrumentalities 18' define a guideway through which the beltmargins are turned upward and displaced inward, first to collect all thetobacco in the middle of the belt, and then to crowd the tobacco upwardand cause surplus tobacco to stand above the effective operating levelof the trimmer.

The guiding and shaping instrumentalities 18, comprises a central bar 22which has a concave upper face 24. Side guide supporting blocks 26 aresecured to opposite sides of the bar 22. Blocks '26 also supportrespective guide blocks or bars 28, which have respective narrowdeformable sections 32. Afiixed upon each block 26 is a block 29. Eachblock 29 has threaded through it a pair of adjusting screws 30 (oneshown), which bear against the deformable section 32 disposed adjacentthereto. By tightening screws 30, sections 32 can be slightly deformedor flexed for varying the transverse spacing therebetween.

The bar 22 and the blocks 26 and 28 jointly define the channel forguiding the belt and controlling the crosssectional area of the tobaccopath. The screws 30 are provided for widening and narrowing the beltdefining the tobacco stream channel as may be required for more nearlyapproximating the desired average tobacco content per cigarette.

It is important not only for the tobacco stream to be reduced incross-sectional area at the trimmer, but also for it to be under asubstantially definite pressure at the trimming station, so that therate at which retained tobacco passes the trimming station willuniformly conform to the standard or normal rate desired, or nearly so.This does not require a heavy pressure, but it does require a pressuresufiicient to compress the tobacco to a substantially more compact formthan it would have if acted upon by gravity alone.

The compacting of the tobacco as indicated is important in order toavoid short weight of tobacco in some regions, notwithstanding theprecaution of starting out with substantially at least the normalquantity of tobacco at each point of the steam. With no other pressurethan gravity, comparative voids, or at least deficiencies can persist inthe stream, and these will force too much of the tobacco above thetrimming level where it will be trimmed away and removed.

The configurations and relative dimensions of the bar 22 and the blocks28 are so chosen as to bring about the required pressure and therequired uniformity of tobacco density at the trimming station. The barand blocks jointly force the belt to define a channel of flasklikeconfiguration in cross-section, with a bulbous body portion surmountedby an elongated narrow neck which is open at the top. At the locationillustrated in FIGURE 2, the channel has the configuration referred towith the bulbous body portion comparatively large and the neckcomparatively short. At the location illustrated in FIGURE 3, thechannel has the same general characteristics but the bulbous bodyportion has been substantially reduced in area and the neck has becomemore elongated. The change of shape occurs progressively and smoothly sothat the tobacco is crowded together more and more as the trimmingstation is approached.

As a result of the crowding, the tobacco in the bulbous portion of thechannel is compressed and is forced upward under pressure into the neck,thus causing the tobacco in the neck to exert an increasing resistanceto the forcing upward of the underlying tobacco. Since the pressure inthe lower portion of the channel is steadily increased, however, thetobacco continues is steadily increased, however, the tobacco continuesto be forced upward into and along the neck above the trim line.

It will be observed that whenever a considerable surplus of tobaccocomes along, some of the surplus will be forced above the trim lineearly in the travel along the channel and before any substantialresistance has been developed in the neck. Where the surplus is butslight, however, the early disposal of a substantial part of it abovethe trim line will not occur and most of it will remain below the trimline until all voids or substantially all voids have been overcome. Inthis connection it should be noted that as the tobacco is put underpressure in the channel, the tobacco, like a liquid, tends to pressoutward in all directions from the region of maximum pressure. Some ofthe tobacco in the more heavily supplied sections of the stream,therefore, presses into adjoining leaner sections of the stream, thustending to effect a redistribution and thereby overcome possible localdeficiencies of tobacco. The trimmer 20 comprises a trimming wheel 34which is rotated at constant speed in a clockwise direction as viewed inFIGURE 1, and a ledger plate 36 which cooperates with the wheel. Astationary mounting block or bar 38 constitutes a common support for theshaft 40 of the wheel 34 and for the ledger plate. The ledger plate 36is fixed in position on the bar 38 by means of a pair of screws 42. Thewheel shaft 40 extends horizontally in a direction at right angles tothe direction of travel of the belt 10. The trimmer wheel 34 extendswell down into the neck 44, between the upturned margins of the belt 10.The ledger plate 36 has its lower boundary flush with the trim line andits lower upstream or right hand edge 46 disposed in proximity to thepath of the teeth 48 of the wheel 34. A concave upstream face of theledger plate extends along an are adjacent to the path of the trimmerteeth. The ledger plate, of course, stands between the sides of the belt10 and limits approach of the belt margin toward one another.

The ledger plate in this form of the invention includes an integral tailportion 50* in the form of a presser bar which substantially fills theneck portion 44 down to the trim line and maintains the tobacco in acollected and compact condition. The presser bar 50 extends beyond thedownstream end of the bar 22 and the blocks 26 and 28. A unitary channelblock 52 stands in abutting relation to the bar 22 and to the blocks 26and 28, and continues to hold the belt sides upturned and the tobaccocollected beneath the tail portion 50. Just beyond the downstream end ofthe tail portion 50, belt 10 carries the tobacco past a forming disc 54which is formed with a transversely concave periphery. The forming disc54 compresses the tobacco, not to the extent that it will be compressedin the cigarette, but sufficiently to cause it to retain a rodlike shapeas it passes from the belt 10 onto the cigarette paper P. After theforming station, the block 52 permits the belt to flatten out. Afterdelivery of the tobacco onto the cigarette paper, the cigarettes arecompleted by conventional mechanism in the conventional way.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 4 to 6 is inmany respects like the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 3. As before, a belt10a has tobacco showered upon it at an even rate and delivers thetobacco onto a cigarette paper web Pa which runs over a roller 14a. Thebelt 10a, as before, has its margins folded in and up by channel formingmembers which consist of a bottom bar 22a, side supporting blocks 26a,and side guiding blocks 28a. The bar 22a has a concave upper face asbefore, but the channel has straight vertical sides, as illustrated inFIGURES 5 and 6. A compressor bar 60 stands in the channel, beingaffixed to one of the side blocks 28a by screws 62 (one shown) which aredisposed above the path of travel of the belt 10a. The compressor bar isspaced inward from both sides of the channel defined by the belt. Thelower face of the compressor bar 60' slopes downward continually,reducing the height of the tobacco path and thereby reducing the path ofthe tobacco as the trimmer wheel 34a is approached. This causes thetobacco to be progressively crowded together and compressed, thecross-section of the tobacco path being reduced from a cross-sectionlike that shown in FIG. 5 near the introductory end of the channel, to across-section like that shown in FIG. 6 at or near the trimming station.

In this form of the invention, because the compressor bar is spacedinward between guide blocks 28a, too narrow neck portions may beprovided, one at each side of the compressor bar, through which tobaccocan be forced upward after it has entered the channel. There is also anevening out of the tobacco flow at the entrance to the channel wheretobacco peaks will be held back by the end of bar 60 and leveled outinto following valleys. As the tobacco is progressively compressedbeneath the sloping bottom surface of the bar 60, there is a tendencyfor the bottom and the sides of the bar to frictionally hold back thetobacco at the more highly compressed sections of the tobacco stream,and thus further to even out the distribution. The result is that thetobacco reaches the trimming station while confined to a channel ofdefinite cross-sectional area and under a nearly uniform predeterminedpressure. When the tobacco is trimmed, there-fore, the resulting fillerhas a greatly improved uniformity of distribution as compared with thestream as received upon the belt a.

As before, the trimming wheel 34:: and the ledger plate 36a may be fixedin position, the shaft 40a and the screws 42a being carried by one ofthe block 2811. The compressor bar 60 is a laminated structure, composedof two opposed elongated metallic members 64 and 65 separated by afiller plate 66 which terminate near the right-hand portion of thetrimmer as seen in FIGURE 4. A laminated tail portion comprisingmetallic side portions and a filler 68 is provided to the left of theledger plate 36a which performs the same hold-down function as the tailportion 50 of FIGURE 1. The wheel removes the tobacco from above thetrim line. The structure of FIGURES 4 to 6 also includes a channeledblock 52a and a forming wheel or disc 54a.

The channel member 64 also carries in fixed position, a pin 70 whichextends through the ledger plate 36a. As the structure of FIGURE 4 hasbeen described the pin 70 performs no function of any importance,serving merely to reinforce to screws 42a. Pin 70 serves an importantfunction in another embodiment of the invention which is provided withmeans pivoted on pin 70 for adjusting the height of the trimming line.In this embodiment, member 28a may be so formed as to permit theinsertion of the height-adjusting mechanism shown on FIGURE 7. With thescrews 42a withdrawn, however, and the shaft 40a turned around so thatit does not extend into the block 28a, but protrudes at the side nearerto the observer, the pin 70 may be caused to form a common pivotalsupport for the ledger plate 36a and the drive shaft 40a upon which thetrimming wheel 34a. is carried. With this modified arrangement, theledger plate 36a and the trimming wheel 34a may be adjusted up or downin unison to raise or lower the trimming line as the desirability ofcorrective adjustment is indicated by overweight or underweight of alarge, predetermined number of cigarettes. For this purpose themechanism illustrated in FIGURE 7 is provided, which comprises a block69 integral with an arm 72 in which is mounted the shaft 40a of trimmer34a.

Having withdrawn the screws 42a and turned the shaft 40a, the mechanicwould align bores 71 of block 69 with the respective bores of the ledgerplate formerly occupied by the screws 42a, the new screws 71 being largeenough to thread into the ledger plate bores, in contrast with thescrews 42a shoe threaded portions passed freely through the bores. Theblock 69 supports at the side remote from the ledger plate, a roller 74which rides upon a normally stationary cam 76; The cam 76 is fast uponthe output shaft 78 of a servomotor 80, which servomotor may be of theselsyn or Autosyn type.

Servomotor 80 has a weight accumulator 130 with a counter 132, asschematically shown in FIG. 7. Counter 132 counts a prescribed number ofcigarette fillers produced, and accumulator 130 accumulates and weighssaid cigarette fillers. Accumulator 130 has a conduit 134, which iselectrically coupled to servomotor 80. At the completion of saidweighing operation, accumulator 130 energizes servomotor 80 and rotatesshaft 78 and cam 76 for adjusting the trimming line of the stream.

For example, if the accumulated weight is below the desired total,accumulator 130 will bring a high part of the cam 76 beneath thefollower 74, and this will have the effect of raising the trimmer 34aand the ledger plate 36a, causing the trimming level to be raised andthe crosssectional area of the retained tobacco stream to be increased.The greater the total weight, the farther clockwise will be the positionto which the cam 76 is turned, and the lower will be the part of the camwhich is set to be effective throughout the next counting period. Thedetails of the mechanism for ope-rating the servomotor 80 may take anyform that produces the result outlined in the foregoing.

In FIGURES 8 and 9 still another illustrative embodiment of theinvention is disclosed. This form of mechanism resembles the formsalready described in many respects and the description will be confinedchiefly to the features of difference.

As before, the belt 10b, which is driven at constant speed over the endroller 12b, receives tobacco at a somewhat variable but generallyadequate rate in a flat run, and delivers it onto a web Pb of cigarettepaper which travels around a roller 14b at the tobacco transfer station.

In this case a trimming unit 16b comprises belt guiding and shapinginstrumentalities 18b and a rotary trimmer 34b. The trimmer 34b islocated substantially midway of the length of the device 16b.

The instrumentalities 18b define a guideway through which the beltmargins are turned upward and displaced inward.

The guiding and shaping instrumentalities 18b comprise a central bar 22bwhich has a transversely concave upper face 24b. The groove formed bythe concavity of the face 24b is comparatively wide and deep at theintroductory end and tapers in width and depth as it approaches thetrimming station, where the trimming wheel 34b is located.Side-guide-supporting blocks 26b are fixedly secured to opposite sidesof the bar 22b. Stationary rigid blocks are fixed upon the blocks 26b bysuitable means (not shown) and have threaded adjustment screws 92screwed through them for engagement with side guiding blocks 94. Theblocks 94 have massive ends which rest upon the blocks 26b and which, inturn, support upon their upper faces neck defining side bars 96. Eachassembly consisting of a supporting block 90, a guide block 94, and abar 96 is held together by a pair of screws 98. Each block 94 hasmassive end portions which are connected to one another through a narrowdeformable web portion 102.

When the weight of a large number of cigarettes, say 25,000, issignificantly greater or less than the normal or indicated weight, thescrews 92 are adjusted in or out to increase or relax the deformingpressure applied to the webportions 102, thereby to narrow or widen thelower portion of the belt guiding channel at, and in the vicinity of,the trmming station. Narrowing of the channel forces more tobacco abovethe trim line, while widening of the channel has the opposite effect.

The blocks 94 and the bars 96 are both shaped so that correspondingmembers converge toward one another as the trimming station isapproached, the convergence of the blocks 94 causing the lower bulbousportion of the channel to be narrowed progressively and the convergenceof the bar 96 causing the neck portion of the channel to be narrowedprogressively and to a more marked degree.

At the introductory end of the channel, the bars 96 are formed withbeveled faces which gradually taper to vanishing points. The channel hassubstantially the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 10 at theintroductory end, and the configuration illustrated in FIGURE 11 nearthe trimming station. The change of contour and the reduction ofcross-sectional area occur progressively and substantially evenlybetween the sections of FIGURES 10 and 11.

As a section of the belt 10b enters the composite channel it willgenerally be able to contain all the tobacco between the belt edges, butas the tobacco progresses along the channel the tobacco will beprogressively crowded upward above the belt edges. Tobacco which extendsabove the belt edges will tend to slow down and shift relative to thegeneral stream so that it forms an available reserve for supplementingthe tobacco supply in a following section of the belt.

As the belt travels toward the trimming station the tobacco in thethroat between the faces 96a of the bars 96 become more firmly packed,but the tobacco deeper down also becomes more crowded and compressed andtends to force its way upwards into the throat, andthereby to expeltobacco upward beyond the belt edges. The tendency to confine theunderlying tobacco is a progressive one, since the tobacco can be quitereadily displaced upward between the plates 94 to collect upon themwhere the space between the plates is broad, but i yieldingly held downwith progressive firmness as the neck becomes narrower. Any tobaccowhich is simply retained loosely on the travelling stream by statonarytobacco accumulated between the bars 94 will have little tendency toaffect the pressure within the neck and in the underlying body of thestream.

Beyond the trimmer the bars 96 have mounted upon them a stationary coverplate 108 which extends from the trimming station to the discharge endof the composite channel. The plate 108 is held in place by two of thescrews 98. The plate 108 includes a downwardly protruding, convex bossor rib 110 which forms with the bars 96, inclined slots 112 in whichmarginal portions of the belt 10b may travel.

A unitary channel block 52b stands in abutting relation with the members22b, 26b and 94 of the device 16b. Raised side walls of the block 5211continue to keep the belt sides upturned for keeping the tobaccocollected until after a driven forming roller 54b is passed.

The trimmer 34b includes a series of blades 48b which are carried on ashaft 40b. The trimmer shaft 40b is carried in a T-shaped bearingbracket 116, the supporting arm of which is clamped in the upper end ofa stationary standard 118. The standard 118 is fixedly secured to one ofthe blocks 26b. Although the shaft 40b is inclined, the blades are soarranged that they extend directly downward as they cross the centerline of the belt, and have their edges set to cross the upper inner edgeof the bar 96 which is nearer to the observer in FIGURE 9, with allpoints of the outer edges of the blades substantially in contact withsaid bar. The bar 96 just referred to is hardened, at least in theportion located at the cutting station, so that it may serve as a ledgerplate for cooperation with the blades.

In each form of the invention the tobacco removed by the trimmer isreturned by suitable means, not shown, to the tobacco source.

The invention hereinabove described may, therefore, be varied inconstruction within the scope of the claims, for the particular devicesselected to illustrate the invention are but some of many possibleembodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, i not to berestricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigarette making machine having a conveyor belt adapted toreceive tobacco from a feeding means adapted to feed tobacco thereon inexcess of that required to form a filler stream and means to move thebelt and filler stream toward a trimming device through guide meansadapted to cause the belt and the stream thereon to have a channelshaped section including an arcuate lower portion' which merges withvertically extending parallel spaced planar side walls, thereby forminga channel with an open upper extremity, the improvement wherein thetrimming device includes means for mounting a wheel and a ledger plateadjacent thereto in the channel between said side walls, said wheelhaving an axis arranged transversely of the path of travel of the streamand including plural blades extending radially of the axis and having awidth such that the blade may be rotated between said channel sidewalls, said ledger plate extending across said channel between said sidewalls and downstream of the wheel with respect to the direction oftravel of said stream, said ledger plate including guide means providinga straight edge extending across the channel, said ledger meanspermitting a desired quantity of tobacco in said stream to passthereunder while excess tobacco propelled by the blades is guided so asto be separated from the stream, and said means for mounting said ledgerplate and said wheel in said channel being such that said plate andwheel may be moved simultaneously about a pivot thereby controlling thesize of the portion of the stream permitted to pass under the ledgerplate, and means for so adjusting the position of the wheel and ledgerplate.

2. A cigarette machine, comprising mechanism for controlling thecross-sectional area and density of a tobacco stream and delivering itto a cigarette paper web for introduction into a cigarette rod former,said stream containing at least enough tobacco in each transverseelemental cross section to form the required cigarette rod, saidmechanism comprising:

an endless belt carrying said stream;

a belt guide supporting said belt having a pair of transversely-spacedoppositely-facing resilient sidewalls forming a groove in said belt;

a trimming wheel having a shaft supported by said belt guide and havingradial blades received in said belt groove and adapted for trimming saidstream along a trim line;

said belt guide having clamp means bearing against said sidewalls andadapted for varying the stream width for a rough adjustment of the trimline height; and

said wheel shaft having an adjustable connection supported by said beltguide adapted for setting the space between the blades and the beltguide for adjustments of the trim line height.

3. A tobacco feeding and regulating mechanism as set forth in claim 2,in which said wheel has its axis of rotation disposed substantially atright angles to the direction of motion of said feed belt, and in whichsaid adjustable shaft connection includes a ledger plate disposedbetween said sidewalls, said plate having an edge disposed adjacent toand coacting with said blades, and said plate having an arcuate surfacedisposed substantially symmetrically about said wheel axis and disposedadjacent to and radially outwardly of said blades for forming conveyorpockets between each pair of adjacent blades and said arcuate surface.

4. Tobacco feeding and regulating mechanism for cigarette makingmachines of the continuous rod type comprising, in combination, aconstant speed tobacco conveying belt adapted to receive loose tobacco,to form a filler stream with varies in transverse cross-sectional areaand in density, but which possesses at all points a cross-sectional areaand density at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area anddensity required for the type of cigarette being made, and means foradjusting the cross-sectional area and density of the stream tosubstantially provide the same, said means including a trimmer disposedat a trimming station to remove all tobacco above a determined trimline, a belt and tobacco guiding means cooperative with the beltprogressively to turn the sides of the belt up and displace the marginsthereof inwardly so that the belt is caused to define a tobaccoconfining passage of changing shape and progressively diminishingcross-section as the trimming station is approached, with said passageat the trimming station having a cross-section configuration including asubstantially circular lower portion surmounted by at least one narrowelongated upper portion which is open at the top, the construction andarrangement being such that the tobacco is confined against accidentalspilling over by the narrowness and height of the upper portion, but anysurplus tobacco in excess of the normal amount will be forci-' blypushed up into the upper portion and above the trimming level, andcaused to be trimmed off by the trimmer, in which the trimmer comprisesa plurality of blades and means driving the trimmer rotatively about atransverse horizontal axis, the trimmer being disposed to extend downinto the lower part of the upper portion of the tobacco path between thebelt margins, and which further includes a ledger plate cooperative withthe trimmer, the ledger plate having its lower edge adjacent the trimmeralso disposed in the lower part of the upper portion of the tobacco pathbetween the margins of the belt.

5. Tobacco feeding and regulating mechanism for cigarette makingmachines of the continuous rod type comprising, in combination, aconstant speed tobacco conveying belt adapted to receiveloose tobacco,to form a filler stream which varies in transverse cross-sectional areaand in density, but which possesses at all points a cross-sectional areaand denity at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area anddensity required for the type of cigarette being made, and means foradjusting the crosssectional area and density of the stream tosubstantially provide the same, said means including a trimmer disposedat a trimming station to remove all tobacco above a determined trimline, a belt and tobacco guiding means cooperative with the beltprogressively to turn the sides of the belt up and displace the marginsthereof inwardly so that the belt is caused to define a tobaccoconfining passage of changing shape and progressively diminishingcross-section as the trimming station is approached, with said passageat the trimming station having a cross-section configuration including asubstantially circular lower portion surmounted by at least one narrowelongated upper portion which is open at the top, the construction andarrangement being such that the tobacco is confined against accidentalspilling over by the narrowness and height of the upper portion, but anysurplus tobacco in excess of the normal amount will be forcibly pushedup into the upper portion and above the trimming level, and caused to betrimmed off by the trimmer, in which the trimmer comprises a pluralityof blades and means driving the trimmer rotatively about a transversehorizontal axis, the trimmer being disposed to extend down into thebottom part of the upper portion of the tobacco path between the beltmargins, which further includes a ledger plate cooperative with thetrimmer, having its lower edge adjacent the trimmer also disposed in thebottom part of the upper portion of the tobacco path between the marginsof the belt, and guide means disposed immediately after the trimmer forengaging the belt margins and spacing them from one another sufficientlyto safeguard against contact of the trimmer blades with the belt.

6. Tobacco feeding and regulating mechanism as set forth in claim whichfurther includes a common support for the trimmer and the ledger plate,and means for adjustably setting the support to select the trimminglevel of the trimmer and the ledger plate, thereby to control thecross-sectional area of the retained-tobacco path at the trimmingstation.

7. Tobacco feeding and regulating mechanism as set forth in claim 5 inwhich the ledger plate and the trimmer are secured in fixed bodilyrelation to one another and are supported for movement in unison about atransverse horizontal axis, and which further includes means foradjusting the ledger plate and the trimmer about said axis, to changethe trimming level and thereby to adjust the crosssectional area of theretained tobacco path at the trimming 1 station.

8. Tobacco feeding and regulating mechanism as set forth in claim 5 inwhich the ledger plate and the trimmer are secured in fixed bodilyrelation to one another and are supported for movement in unison about atransverse horizontal axis, and which further includes a rotary cammechanism for varying the angular positions of the trimmer-ledger-platecombination, and means automatically adjusting the rotative position ofthe cam in order to effect a corrective adjustment of the trimminglevel.

9. A tobacco feeding and regulating mechanism for cigarette makingmachines of the continuous rod type comprising, in combination, atobacco conveying belt, adapted to receive loose tobacco to form avariable filler stream, said stream containing at least enough tobaccoin all elemental cross-sections of its length to form the requiredcigarette rod, means for adjusting said quantity to the quantitydesired, said means including a trimmer disposed at a trimming stationto remove all tobacco above a determined trim line, guiding meanscooperative with said belt, progressively to turn the sides of the beltup and to displace the margins thereof inwardly so that the belt iscaused to define a tobacco confining passage of changing shape andprogressively diminishing cross-section as the trimming station isapproached, with said passage at the trimming station having across-section including an arcuate lower portion surmounted by at leastone narrow elongated portion which is open at the top, the constructionand arrangement being such that the tobacco is confined againstaccidental spilling by the excess height of the narrow elongated portionover the height attained by the tobacco therein, as the surplus tobaccoin excess of the required amount is forcibly pushed up into the narrowelongated portion and above said trim line, and caused to be trimmed offby the trimmer, in which the trimmer comprises a plurality of blades andmeans driving the trimmer rotatively about a transverse horizontal axis,the trimmer being disposed to extend down into the neck portion of thetobacco path between the belt margins, which further includes a ledgerplate cooperative with the trimmer, having its lower edge adjacent thetrimmer also disposed in the neck portion of the tobacco path betweenthe margins of the belt, and guide means disposed immediately after thetrimmer for engaging the belt margins and spacing them from one anothersufficiently to safeguard against contact of the trimmer blades with thebelt, which further includes a common support for the trimmer and theledger plate, and means for adjustably setting the support to select thetrimming level of the trimmer and the ledger plate, thereby to controlthe crosssectional area of the retained tobacco path at the trimmingstation.

10. A tobacco feeding and regulating mechanism for cigarette makingmachines of the continuous rod type comprising, in combination, atobacco conveying belt, adapted to receive loose tobacco to form avariable filler stream, said stream containing at least enough tobaccoin all elemental cross-sections of its, length to form the requiredcigarette rod, means for adjusting said quantity to the quantitydesired, said means including a trimmer disposed at a trimming stationto remove all tobacco above a determined tn'm line, guiding meanscooperative with said belt, progressively to turn the sides of the beltup and to displace the margins thereof inwardly so that the belt iscaused to define a tobacco confining passage of changing shape andprogressively diminishing cross-section as the trimming station isapproached, with said passage at the trimming station having across-section including an arcuate lower portion surmounted by at leastone narrow elongated portion which is open at the top, the constructionand arrangement being such that the tobacco is confined againstaccidental spilling by the excess height of the narrow elongated portionover the height attained by the tobacco therein, as the surplus tobaccoin excess of the required amount is forcibly pushed up into the narrowelongated portion and above said trim line, and caused to be trimmed offby the trimmer, in which the trimmer comprises a plurality of blades andmeans driving the trimmer rotatively about a transverse horizontal axis,the trimmer being disposed to extend down into the neck portion of thetobacco path between the belt margins, which further includes a ledgerplate cooperative with the trimmer, having its lower edge adjacent thetrimmer also disposed in the neck portion of the tobacco path betweenthe margins of the belt, and guide means disposed immediately after thetrimmer for engaging the belt-margins and spacing them from one anothersufiiciently to safeguard against contact of the trimmer blades with thebelt, in which the ledger plate and the trimmer are secured in fixedbodily relation to one another and are supported for movement in unisonabout a transverse horizontal axis, and which further includes rotarycam mechanism for varying the angular positions of thetrimmer-ledger-plate combination, and means automatically adjusting therotative position of the cam in response to the measured weight of thetobacco in a large, predetermined number of cigarettes, thereby toeffect corrective adjustment of the trimming level.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ruau 131-66 Koerner 13184Herrmann 13l66 Podmore 13166 Herrmann 131-84 Rault 131-84 Lanore 13184 XLanore 131-84 Labbe 13184 X FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1960 France.

SAMUEL KOREN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH S. REICH, Examiner.

1. IN A CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINE HAVING A CONVEYOR BELT ADAPTED TORECEIVE TOBACCO FROM A FEEDING MEANS ADAPTED TO FEED TOBACCO THEREON INEXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED TO FORM A FILLER STREAM AND MEANS TO MOVE THEBELT AND FILLER STREAM TOWARD A TRIMMING DEVICE THROUGH GUIDE MEANSADAPTED TO CAUSE THE BELT AND THE STREAM THEREON TO HAVE A CHANNELSHAPED SECTION INCLUDING AN ARCUATE LOWER PORTION WHICH MERGES WITHVERTICALLY EXTENDING PARALLEL SPACED PLANAR SIDE WALLS, THEREBY FORMINGA CHANNEL WITH AN OPEN UPPER EXTREMITY, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN THETRIMMING DEVICE INCLUDES MEANS FOR MOUNTING A WHEEL AND A LEDGER PLATEADJACENT THERETO IN THE CHANNEL BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID WHEELHAVING AN AXIS ARRANGED TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE STREAMAND INCLUDING PLURAL BLADES EXTENDING RADIALLY OF THE AXIS AND HAVING AWIDTH SUCH THAT THE BLADES MAY BE ROTATED BETWEEN SAID CHANNEL SIDEWALLS, SAID LEDGER PLATE EXTENDING ACROSS SAID CHANNEL BETWEEN SAID SIDEWALLS AND DOWNSTREAM OF THE WHEEL WITH RESPECT TO THE DIRECTION OFTRAVEL OF SAID STREAM, SAID LEDGER PLATE INCLUDING GUIDE MEANS PROVIDINGA STRAIGHT EDGE EXTENDING ACROSS THE CHANNEL, SAID LEDGER MEANSPERMITTING A DESIRED QUANTITY OF TOBACCO IN SAID STREAM TO PASSTHEREUNDER WHILE EXCESS TOBACCO PROPELLED BY THE BLADES IS GUIDED SO ASTO BE SEPARATED FROM THE STREAM, AND SAID MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID LEDGERPLATE AND SAID WHEEL IN SAID CHANNEL BEING SUCH THAT SAID PLATE ANDWHEEL MAY BE MOVED SIMULTANEOUSLY ABOUT A PIVOT THEREBY CONTROLLING THESIZE OF THE PORTION OF THE STREAM PERMITTED TO PASS UNDER THE LEDGERPLATE, AND MEANS FOR SO ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF THE WHEEL AND MEANSFOR SO ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF THE WHEEL AND LEDGER PLATE.